Artificial bait.



W. I. SPRAGUE.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT. APPLICATION FILED 001126. I915.

Patented May 23,1916.

Swumdoz Jinru m wikueooc-o THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D C.

WILLIAM J'. SPRAG-UE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

Application filed. October 26, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM J. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Bait, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial bait, and comprehends the provision of an article of this character constructed to resemble a small fish, bug, or other like object suitable for the purpose, and adapted when submerged to move about and wiggle with a motion similar to the movements of the object which it represents.

More specifically stated, I propose to provide an article of this character embodying among other features a plurality of flexible strips or tail members, wherein certain of said strips or members are yieldably held normally in spaced relation, so that they will wiggle due to the different pressures exerted upon the strip as the bait is trolled through the water.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction and arrangement of parts as defined in the claims.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a view showing the detail construction of the various parts.

Before entering into a detail description of the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, I desire to have it understood that the device may be constructed to resemble a fish, bug, or like object suitable for the purpose intended, and that such changes in the construction of the device may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. As shown in this particular instance how ever the device consists of a relatively small block 5 of any suitable material, preferably rubber, having one side thereof from a point approximately midway of its length beveled or inclined upwardly as at 6 to the forward end of the block to attribute thereto the appearance or resemblance of the head of a Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 57,982.

small fish such as a minnow or the like,

lar dimension of the block, the strip being tapered from a point approximately its transverse center throughout the remaining portion of its length. One end of the strip is secured to the forward end 8 of the block in any suitable manner, and secured above this end of the strip 7 is a reduced intermediate portion 9 of the strip 10. The lat ter mentioned strip is approximately double the length of the strip 7 and in addition to being secured to the forward end of the block as hereinabove mentioned, it is also secured to the opposed sides 11 thereof. The terminals of the strip 10 are disposed in parallel relation and extend in a common direction with respect to the strip 7. This strip has its opposite ends tapered in a similar manner as the strip 7. The strips when secured to the block 5 as described cover all sides of the block excepting that side provided with a beveled or inclined surface 6, and as a complete article is indicative of a small fish such as a minnow or the like. The strips extend a considerable distance beyond the block 5, the terminals of the strip 10 being curved inwardly toward each other, while the strip 7 has its terminal curved downwardly as illustrated, the curved portions providing surfaces adapted to be acted upon by the water to impart a wiggle motion similar to the movements of the object which it represents. Terminally secured to the parallel portions of the strip 10, are the opposite ends of a spring or yieldable member 12, the latter preferably consisting of an elongated piece of rubber, which may be secured to the parallel portions of the strip 10 in any suitable manner. This member yieldably supports the parallel members of the strip 10 normally in convergently disposed relation, and materially assists in imparting thereto a wig gle motion, due to the different pressures exerted upon the parallel members of the strip 10 as the bait is trolled through the water.

While I have described the article as consisting of separate members or parts opera tively associated, I desire to have it understood that the article may be constructed from a solid piece of rubber or other suitomitted.

able material from which the separated branches similar to the strips 7 and 10 may project. The article in its entirety is to be colored in a manner Which Will prove very attractive to the fish, and may also be manufactured at a very lOW figure.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the prising a solid portion, a plurality of strips flexible throughout their length, arranged characteristics.

longitudinally of said solid portion and projecting beyond one end thereof, and a yieldable connection between certain of said strips, to produce movements of different 2. An article of the character described comprising a solid portion indicative of the Copies of this patent may be obtained for fise eeeis head of an object, and a plurality of strips projecting beyond one end of said solid portions, said strips being flexible throughout their length, and yield-able means for normally spacing certain of said strips, to produce movements of different characteristics.

3. An article of the character described comprising a solid portion indicative of the head of an object, a plurality of flexible strips projecting from said solid portion and having inwardly curved terminals, and a yieldable connection between certain of said strips for holding the latter convergently disposed in normal position, to produce movements of diiierent characteristics.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses LEROY C. SEYMOUR,

T. A. MOARTHUR.

Washington, D. 0. 

